History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 41

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 41

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This church now has a membership of fifty-five.

The Springfield church is not located at the old village by that name, but about a mile and a half east, half way between the site of the former village of Springfield and the town of Raymond. The congregation has a substantial brick building and, with fifty members, is strong enough to be a

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factor in the religious life of the community. It has been attached to the Mt. Carmel circuit for many years.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal church, located two miles northeast of Mt. Carmel, was organized in 1840 by Rev. James Jones, who raised eight hundred dollars with which to erect a house of worship. An old log school house had been built on the same ground in 1820 and had been used for both school and church purposes. Asbury was named for the good bishop of the church and was first represented by such men as Arthur Cunningham, Jacob Gates, William M. Baird, their wives and families. Among the numerous early-day revivals, two are spoken of as being wonderful in their power and influence-those of 1844 and 1860. Early ministers on this circuit were Revs. James Jones, John and George Winchester, Joseph Parkington and G. W. Wilson. There are now eighteen members.

Locke chapel, in the northeastern part of Brookville township, was organized and a chapel erected in 1860. The society flourished about forty years and in 1900 the building was converted into a dwelling. It was situated on the Fairfield circuit. Among the prominent members were George O'Byrne, Maria O'Byrne, John Smith, Hannah Smith, Mrs. William Carman, Mr. William Carman, John Carman and wife, Abner Sering and wife, George Templeton and wife.

ABBOTT'S CHAPEL.

One of the earliest Methodist churches in Franklin county was located in the northern part of Butler township, in section 24. The members of the church in that vicinity erected a large building of hewed poplar logs in the latter part of the thirties and named it Abbott's chapel, after the preacher who was instrumental in organizing the first congregation. The building was later weather boarded. The land on which the church was erected was donated by Samuel Alley, one of the principal members. While the building was being raised Mr. Alley boarded all of the laborers and contributed gen- erously of his time and means to the church from the beginning. The church was about sixty by thirty feet and at that time was probably the largest church building in the county. Services were held regularly until about 1874 and then, on account of the removal of many of the members, it was decided to discontinue the organization. The building remained standing unused for many years and was finally torn down and today the massive logs out of which it was built are in a barn on the farm of Lafayette Jones in Butler township. Part of the lumber was used in building a rostrum in the Elm Grove school house. Owing to the shifting of population the greater portion

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of the members of this congregation attached themselves later to the Elm Grove church in Metamora township. Among the ministers of Abbott's chapel may be mentioned the following: Revs. Abbott, William Younts, Isaac Turner, Othniel and Will Bruner, Richardson, N. F. Tower, William Morrow, John W. Dole, George Havens, Orlando Havens, Williamson Ter- rell and Pennell. Among the early members of the church may be mentioned John Cragan and family, James Ray and wife, Robert Holland and wife, Isaac Cooley and family. Thomas Biggs and wife, Richard Jackson and wife, Ambrose Mannering and family, Henry Cooley and family, Samuel Alley and wife. Thomas Alley and wife, David Alley and wife, Joseph Alley and wife.

The Oak Forest church was located in section 20, on the road between the old town of Franklin and Oak Forest. Here the Methodists worshipped for many years in a small frame building, but, due to deaths and removals, the congregation was disbanded a few years ago.

Hickory chapel was located on Walnut fork, in section 24 of Butler township. The building was erected in 1878 by John McCurdy, John Kile and Jacob Colyer and several others who helped to cut the logs from which it was constructed. The logs were of hickory-hence its name, Hickory chapel. It was used for church purposes until about 1888, then converted into a resi- dence, and many years later burned. Church services, Sunday school and public school were all held in this pioneer building. In 1885 there was a three months' term of public school taught there by George Alley. Among the pastors who preached there are recalled Revs. Samuel Foster, Towers, Spicer, John Green and Storkes.

About 1842 there was a small log church built in Butler township, sec- tion 14. township 10 north, range 12 east. Later it was converted into a dwelling. This was styled Providence chapel. A few deserted graves now mark the spot where it stood.

Butler chapel was first organized as an independent congregation in section 28 of Butler township, about the center of the section. Later, another building was erected by this congregation in the northern part of this same section, near the village of Oak Forest. It has long since been discontinued.

McKendrie church was located in the extreme northeastern corner of Metamora township. It was the center of Methodist activity for many years, but, like many other rural churches of the county, has been abandoned on ac- count of the deaths of its members, removals and the shifting of population. The first hewed log church built is still standing and services are held in it once each year.

Cedar Grove church has long since been discontinued. The first house of

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worship erected in Cedar Grove was built by the members of all churches then living in the village and was free for the use of all orthodox churches.

The Methodists erected the first house of worship in Salt Creek town- ship in the nearly seventies. It was a rude log structure and stood in the little village of Stips' Hill. It was used for several years and then torn down to make way for a frame building which is still standing. This church is now numbered among those which have closed their doors.

Zion church was a flourishing congregation in section 16 of White Water township for many years. A church was built and dedicated January 8, 1871, at a time when there were only six male members in the congregation. Immediately after the dedication of the church Rev. S. H. Whitmore con- ducted a revival which resulted in the addition of twenty-two members. It should be mentioned that services had been held for three years previous to the building of the church in a school house in that vicinity.

In Highland township what was called Franklin meeting house was built of logs. It was situated west of where the village of South Gate stands. It was built by the early pioneers of that neighborhood.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES.

What is known as the "Stone church," five miles northeast of the town of Laurel, in section 6 of Blooming Grove township, is a very small structure erected by the Methodist Protestant denomination about 1877, in the Sher- wood neighborhood. Amos Neptune was a leading factor in organizing this church society, and it is believed that Rev. Joseph Williams was the first pastor in charge. At first the old-fashioned log church served their purpose, but it was finally burned and in about 1877 the present stone building was erected. The society went down many years ago and the Holiness wing of the Methodist church got control of the building, and used it until recently, since which time the same class of religionists, but now styled the Nazarenes, occupy it and have within the last few months hired a pastor, who lives on a farm near by the church. The society is not a strong one in point of mem- bership.

The Methodist Protestants built a church in section 24 of Laurel town- ship in 1866-67, which they called Bethel. Services were held here more or less regularly until 1886, when the building was burned to the ground. Mil- ton Curry later bought the farm on which the church stood and built a dwell- ing house on the foundation of the old church.

(28)

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At the town of Laurel the Methodist Protestants maintained a church from 1888 until within the past few years, since which no services have been held. They formerly worshipped in what is now the Christian church build- ing, but litigation arose and a mortgage held by the Christian church finally took the little frame church property. Then the Methodist Protestant people hauled in a large frame church building from one of the southern townships of this county, and in that they continued to worship from 1893 until the society disbanded. The church was a very old weather-beaten building, erected about 1850 ; it is a very large structure, but is fast going to decay. An ornamental semi-circle up in its front gable has carved in the wood, "M. P. Church, 1893."

At Brookville. some time in the forties, there was organized a Methodist Protestant church. In about 1850 they built a small brick church on James street, east from the public square. In this the county courts were held after the burning of the court house. For such use it was put during 1852-53, till better quarters could be secured by the county.

GERMAN METHODISTS.

At one time there was a church of the German Methodist denomination located at Brookville. As early as 1845 the people of this faith were wor- shipping in a private house where a class was held. In 1847, desiring a house of their own in which to hold meetings, they commenced the agitation for a building. In May, 1848, lot number 27, in Allen's platting of the town, was donated by Isaac Price and wife to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church "heretofore appointed by the Society of Germans connected with said church" and a church was erected on Fourth street the following year. It was, however, not fully completed for several years. In the winter of 1849 Dr. O. F. Fitch taught public school in this building, and in 1850 ex-Governor Cumback occupied it as a school room. During the erection of the court house, court was held in it. The first presiding elder was Rev. John Kiesling and the first pastor was Rev. Conrad Muth. The congregation was com- posed of the following, with possibly a few more members: The Heidrons, Hamans, Houcks, Latins, Roofs, Batzners, Messes, Smiths, Rittengers, Sniders, Conrads, Trichlers, Metzgers, Waltzs, Rowes, Poppes, and Mrs. Rosa Linck. Deaths and removals weakened the society until finally, about 1865, it disbanded. In 1896 the church building was sold, before it should be desecrated by being used for other than religious uses. So it was that Mrs. Amelia Haman purchased it and kindly permitted other denominations

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with no building of their own to use it. Subsequently it was sold (in 1896) to the United Brethren church, which now occupies it.

BAPTIST CHURCHES.

Beyond any doubt the first church organized within the present limits of Franklin county was the Little Cedar Grove Baptist church, which was formed just prior to 1806, nearly all authorities agree, and none place it later than 1806. The church building was erected in 1812, as is indicated by the inscription on the brick building, which is still standing, and is the property of the Franklin County Historical Society. The following is the remarkable history of this, the pioneer church of the county, and among the very first within the state.

LITTLE CEDAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

Overlooking White Water river, there stands, three miles south of Brook- ville, a quaint, old-fashioned brick church and high in the western gable of this .old structure may still be plainly seen the date-1812. This is not only the first Baptist church erected in Indiana, but one of the first in the Missis- sippi valley.

It is known that as early as 1805 there was a society of Baptists in south- eastern Indiana in the vicinity of where Brookville now stands. This is supposed by many to be the first Protestant society established in Indiana. In those very early years there were no church buildings, and the religious services were held in the rude cabins of the settlers. Tradition has it, how- ever, that there was a log meeting house erected about 1806 on the Hackle- man farm, three miles south of Brookville. This meeting place was known as Little Cedar, taking its name from a creek that flows nearby. Men of rare merit served at Little Cedar from time to time. The Rev. Tyner and William DeWeese were two men of rare worth, whose names were long as ointment poured upon the troubled souls of their community.

Rev. DeWeese was a quaint, old-fashioned man, of kindly demeanor, and was not opposed to having a bit of fun at times. A characteristic story is told of him in regard to a young couple whom he actually married before they knew it. He performed a large number of marriage ceremonies, but this particular one has been handed down to the succeeding generations as being one out of the ordinary.

It is said that one time he was driving his ox team to mill, when he was met by a young man on horseback, with a young woman on the same horse

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behind him. The young man hailed the ox-driver and said: "Mr. De Weese, we are going to your house to be married. Can you go back?" "Have you got a license?" said the preacher. The license was produced. He examined it a moment, then, looking at them as they sat on the horse,-her arm en- circling his waist,-said: "So you want to be married, do you? Both of you?" Both nodded assent. "Then I pronounce you man and wife. Go home now ; you are married." And struck his ox team a crack with his whip and drove on to mill. And "man and wife" were at first dumbfounded at the suddenness of the ceremony, but soon recovered from their surprise and went on their way rejoicing-married sure enough.

The church was built of brick which were molded and burnt at the side of the church. It is plain and rectangular, planned like a dry goods box, more for use than for beauty. It contains a gallery, supported by strong columns of ash, which on their octagonal surfaces still bear the ax-marks of the pio- neer builders. The pulpit is large, high, square and plain, and is placed against the center of the north wall. The woodwork is all unpainted and un- varnished, time having given it a beautiful brown color. Originally there were two stairways to the gallery, and the building was heated by burning charcoal on a hearth in the center of the floor, in front of the pulpit. The seats are high-backed and old-fashioned, decorated by many letters and names, rudely carved by the pocket knives of boys, who have grown up to manhood, chosen their different ways and finally laid down life's burdens and gone away to God. The building has three doorways, opening to the east, south and west, with aisles running from each to the center of the room. Outside, high up in the western gable, is the date of the building, 1812. West of the church, on a high point, running out between Little Cedar creek and the lowest river terrace, is the old graveyard. It is filled with sunken, nameless graves, only a few low, rude headstones and one tall gray tablet remaining. This stone bears the following inscription, beautiful in simplicity :

Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, wife of William Tyner, who departed this life August 2d, 1810. Aged 30 years and 3 days.

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That the building of this old church was in contemplation in 1806 is evident from the old record book. But there is a little legend in regard to its origin, which was related to me several years ago and is as follows: In those long-gone days, those of the Baptist faith would meet at the houses of the different members and join in praise and prayer. But they became some- what careless of their duties, and one day, after long forbearance, they were sternly reminded of negligence somewhere, for along came the great earth- quake of 1811, the most severe ever experienced in the history of our little valley. The earth trembled and vibrated, while the water in the river plashed from shore to shore as if its bed was a trough that was being rocked, and the tree tops waved like heads of barley in a June wind. The peo- ple, with a sudden and awful sense of scare, ran to and fro, called prayer meetings, exhorted each other to good deeds and repented of their sins as if the judgment day was at hand. They met together in solemn conclave, and made covenant with the Almighty (just as if man could not trust God and He must be bribed to be good to the race) that if He would send no more of those terrible earthquakes. they would build him a church. But I wish to doubt the foregoing story and to prove that it was more in love than in fear that they reared the buildings, so I will turn to the records themselves. The book is made of heavy unruled paper, once white, now yellow with age. The covering is of leather, soft as velvet to the touch, with the edges turned neatly under, and it has been carefully lined with plain white paper glued smoothly and tightly to the leather, and the whole sewed together with strong cord. Lift it carefully, for its age is more than three-score years and ten. Open it, and the first words which greet the eye, in large, graceful. bold letters are these : "James Tyner was born August the 17th, 1770." Then follow faded letters in another hand (tired hand, it, too, is faded now and rested), record- ing that this is "The Little Cedar Grove church book." The first leaves of the books are missing, and the date of the first complete minutes is October 5, 1806.

The records cover a period of twenty-four years, and on October 5, 1806, the members of the church agreed to erect a meeting house, and at the next meeting, one month later, John Milholland and Conrad Saylor were ap- pointed to secure the title of two acres of land purchased of William Wilson, and it is agreed that we meet at John Milholland's until we get our meeting house built. Also at this meeting a "petition was presented and received from a body of members in the Big Bottom, to constitute them a church."

The two acres of land purchased of William Wilson are the lots on which the church and old cemetery, with its one sentinel gravestone, are now

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located, but there were a number of changes made before the position was finally settled. And "the body of members in the Big Bottom" (now Eliza- bethtown, Ohio, and vicinity) seem to have been the "arm" of the society, which withdrew from it and became a separate church; for, during the rise and progress of this Little Cedar Grove church, it had many "arms" reaching out in all directions. There was one on the West fork of the White Water, one at a place known as Mt. Happy, one on Indian creek, another on Joseph Hanna's creek, and still another on Dry fork, which became separate churches between 1806 and 1810. After these many other arms grew out, as neighbor- hoods become more thickly populated. One on Big Cedar creek, "in the neighborhood of Brother Joab Stout;" one on the West fork, "in the New Purchase ;" one called New Hope and many others.

After November 1, 1806, nothing of interest occurs in the minutes until February 7, 1807, on which day is recorded a subscription for the minister, and to Brother Tyner is given three days' work by each of the following named members: John Milholland, Conrad Saylor and William G. Eads. while Henry Eads, Abraham Hackleman and John Saylor each gave two days work. On May 2, 1807, Eli Stringer was admitted into the church by letter, and then followed a long series of minutes, consisting of little more than dates of meetings and admissions of members. among whom were John Tyner "and Fannie, his wife," and James Tyner, Catherine Blades, Mary Jack, Jonathan and Mary Gillim, Abraham and Eunice Lee, Jacob and Sarah Youngblood and Jabez Winship.

The year 1810 seems to have been a year of prosperity for the church, since in that year, twenty-four new members were added, on November 3. It is at this time that the congregation reconsidered the building of the meet- ing-house. Nothing definite was decided upon until March 2, 1811, a portion of the record. On that date it was agreed that "we move our meeting-house (it was not then built) on a piece of ground purchased of William Tyner, said ground or land lying in northwest corner of quarter section said Tyner now lives on. Appointed a committee to meet on Friday of this month on said piece of land, to procure a title and lay out said piece of land for the use of the Little Cedar Grove church, and to devise a plan to build the meeting- house. The committee are Conrad Saylor, William G. Eads, Abraham Hackleman. John Hall and James Tyner." This committee had the privilege of selecting two different sites and finally chose a site on the bank of the river "at the ford which crosses to go over to John Halls." The said committee decided to build a meeting-house with hewed logs and the size to be twenty- two by forty feet with a room for a gallery. This site, however, was not

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satisfactory to the church and at the next meeting it was moved to reconsider the matter. A second site was chosen at the foot of the hill near the first place chosen, but again the congregation refused to give its assent to the re- port of the committee. Like the charm that never works until the third time, it was the third site chosen which proved to be the one on which the church was to be built. This was finally decided on June 29, 1811, and on that date Conrad Saylor was authorized to employ hands to aid him in making and baking the brick. The material for these bricks was kneaded by driving oxen around in it. On August 3, 1811, Conrad Saylor, William Eads and Abra- ham Hackleman were appointed to confirm a contract between the church and Enoch McCarty for the land purchased of Enoch McCarty, on which the church was to be built. Evidently the building had not commenced before November 2, 18II, since on that date a number of men were appointed "to superintend the whole business" as regards the building of the meeting-house.

Just when this building was started and when completed does not appear, although it was in a sufficient stage of completion on August 1, 1812, that the congregation met in it for the first time. The members paid their subscrip- tions in money, corn, pork and produce of all kinds and it does not take much stretching of the imagination to see the two workman, Thomas Carter, the carpenter, and Thomas Winscott, the mason, going home Saturday night with their weekly wages in the shape of cabbage and coonskins. So much energy was expended by the members in building the church that they seemed to have taken sort of a religious rest for a couple years afterwards. At least it was not until June 4, 1814, that any new members were taken in. In the fall of that year Luther Hinman was received into the church before it was found out that he was a Mason. Upon the discovery that he belonged to a secret society he was promptly expelled and his faithful wife at once withdrew with him. However, Hinman was such a good citizen and excellent man that his expulsion caused not a little trouble in the church. Quietly, but persistently, he applied year after year to be reinstated in the church and finally, probably because they admired his evident desire to be again in the fold of the church, his name was again entered on the church roll. Others who belonged to the Masons were expelled, but they, too, were reinstated.

By 1830 the congregation had become very strong and flourishing, no less than one hundred and sixty members having been taken in since the church was organized. This church has been practically discontinued since the Civil War, although occasional services were held during the seventies. In 1908 the Brookville Historical Society acquired possession of the building and intends to utilize it eventually as a memorial building and museum.

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The last available statistics on the Baptist churches of Franklin county gives the membership of the four churches in existence in 1831. The Brook- ville American in its issue of August 14, 1913, gives the membership statistics for 1831 as follows : Big Cedar, 171 ; Little Cedar, 119; Fairfield, 37 ; Indian Creek, 135.

As early as 1806 Baptist preachers called at Fairfield settlement and preached, but no society was organized until that of the Fairfield Regular Baptist church, June 27, 1818, with twenty-five members. Being a branch of New Hope church, the society worshipped in the meeting-house on the old school section. Elders Deweese, Tyner, Oldham, Wilson Thompson, Horn- ady and Thomas were among the early preachers. In 1825 the society pur- chased a lot and erected their church, which was constantly in use by the Bap- tist people and others until near the eighties, when another building was pro- vided. Death, removals and general changes in religious sentiment in the community caused the church to go down and the remaining Baptists of the community worship with other denominations.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 41

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648